Burnham vows to publish 10-year plan before Christmas recess

Summarised from 6 outlets · Updated 12 Nov, 01:02 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to publishing his 10-year plan before Parliament rises for Christmas on 17 December, reversing earlier hints it could slip to next year.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions that his flagship 10-year plan will be published before Parliament rises for the Christmas recess on 17 December. The commitment reverses his earlier suggestion to The Economist last week that the timing was uncertain and the government 'may go into the new year'. At that time, he said there was no 'firm landing zone' for its publication.

Burnham said the plan would 'lay a new path' for the country and 'break with the failed policies of the party opposite'. He told the Commons: 'I did walk up Downing Street promising a 10-year plan for this country because I am determined to give this country the stability that they failed to provide. I am determined to give the leadership that this country needs, and I can say to her, we will present our plan for Britain to this House before it rises for the Christmas recess.'

When pressed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on whether external consultants were helping to draft the plan, Burnham did not answer directly. The Evening Standard reports that the Boston Consulting Group is advising on the strategy. Badenoch questioned whether Burnham needed management consultants to write the plan for him, labelling his government as 'adrift'.

The Sunday Times reports the document will be divided into three sections focused on the government's role throughout people's lives: 'growing up', 'getting on' and 'growing old'. Burnham said the plan will contain proposals for a national care service and that cross-party talks on adult social care will take place before the end of the year. He has described it as a decade-long scheme to reverse '40 years of neoliberalism'.

Burnham originally promised the plan in his first speech as Prime Minister in July, saying he would 'bring forward a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan, laying out a path from where we are now to where I believe we all want Britain to be'. The Daily Mail reports that the plan was originally written by former Keir Starmer aide Peter Hyman, though officials insist key decisions are made by the PM himself.

Some Labour MPs have separately raised concerns about the plan. According to the Evening Standard, the leader of the Labour reindustrialisation research group Andy MacNae and fellow member Jonathan Hinder told the Guardian that proposed reindustrialisation plans may not be realised, and that 'pretty drastic action' was needed. The Guardian reports that some Labour MPs have raised concerns the plan might not be radical or detailed enough.

The Daily Mail reports that ministers have warned efforts to turn Burnham's promises into reality are descending into 'chaos'. One unnamed minister told the outlet: 'There isn't any clear strategy, with the team still trying to find their feet. The idea there's some grand plan that's been mapped out is just spin.' Another said officials are 'scrabbling around trying to make this ten-year plan real', with tensions over how to pay for commitments such as the National Care Service and restoration of public control over privatised utilities.

How it is being reported

• 'There is no grand plan. It's just spin': Ministers hit out as PM says his blueprint for UK will be out in weeksAndy Burnham was stung into announcing that his ten-year plan will be rushed out before Christmas after Kemi Badenoch mocked him for needing management consultants to write it.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 23:47
• Andy Burnham says government will unveil 10-year plan by mid-DecemberPrime minister tells Kemi Badenoch at PMQs that flagship strategy will be revealed before Commons Christmas recess The government’s flagship 10-year plan will emerge by mid-December, Andy Burnham has told MPs, having previously raised the possibility that it might be delayed until next year. Quizzed by Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions, Burnham told the Conservative leader the plan would be unveiled before the Commons Christmas recess, which begins on 17 December. Continue reading...Guardian World · 11 Nov, 13:47
• Ten-year plan for Britain to be published before Christmas, Burnham saysThe Prime Minister says his decade-long vision will be launched before the New Year as Kemi Badenoch labelled his Government as ‘adrift’.Evening Standard · 11 Nov, 13:01
• Burnham promises 10-year plan before Christmas recessThe British prime minister says his blueprint will be presented to the Commons by Dec. 17.Politico Europe · 11 Nov, 12:49
• Andy Burnham Says His 10-Year Plan Will Come This Year – Days After Saying It Could Be DelayedAndy Burnham has insisted his 10-year plan will be published this year – just days after saying it could be delayed. The prime minister told MPs it will come out before the Commons rises for the Christmas recess on December 17. Speaking on the steps of Downing Street after becoming PM in July, Burnham said: “Later this year, I will bring forward a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan, laying out a path from where we are now to where I believe we all want Britain to be.” But last week, he told The Economist: “We may go into the new year, to be honest. I don’t think we’ve got a firm landing…HuffPost UK · 11 Nov, 12:40
• Andy Burnham vows to unveil 10-year plan to transform Britain before ChristmasThe Prime Minister stepped into Downing Street pledging a decade-long scheme to reverse '40 years of neoliberalism', and lift Britain back to where it should beThe Mirror · 11 Nov, 12:35

In this story: Andy Burnham · Kemi Badenoch · Boston Consulting Group · Labour Party · Conservative Party · Peter Hyman

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log